SHRM All Things Work Podcast · August 19, 2026
What happens when being the person everyone relies on starts to undermine both your own capacity and your team’s growth? In this episode of SHRM All Things Work, Dr. Julie Armstrong joins mental wellness expert Leah Marone to unpack “fixer fatigue” — the exhaustion that can come from always being available, adaptable, and ready with the answer. The conversation looks closely at the pressure middle managers often feel to solve problems for others and the hidden cost of that pattern: leaders become depleted while team members lose opportunities to build confidence, judgment, and capability.
The episode explores how leaders can set healthier boundaries without becoming less supportive, recognize when their limits have become too thin, and make the important mindset shift from “solve” to “support.” Julie and Leah discuss how stepping out of the fixer role can create more space for coaching, shared ownership, and sustainable leadership — helping leaders protect their own capacity while developing people who are increasingly able to think, decide, and act for themselves. For middle leaders especially, the conversation offers a practical reminder that leading well doesn’t mean having every answer; sometimes the stronger leadership move is helping someone else find theirs.